Trousers clasp or guard



(No Model.} 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

G. A. TOWER."- TROUSERS CLASP 0R GUARD.

No. 523,557; Patented July 24, 1894.

W 5mm mt-mars Pinks m. moruuma. WASNINGTON a c (No Model.) 1 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

G. A. TOWER.

TROUSER$ CLASP on GUARD. No. 523,557. Patented July 24, 1894.

PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE A. TOWER, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA,

TROUSERS CLASP OR GUARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.'523,557, dated July 24, 1894.

Application filed March 12, 18 94.

To alt whom it may concern.-

3e 1t known that I, GEORGE A. TOWER, a cltlzen of the United States, residing at Richmond, 1n the county of Henrico and State .of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trousers Clasps or Guardsfor Bicycle-Riders, of which the followmg 1s aspecificatiomreference being'had thereln to the accompanying drawings, in which-- I Figure 1 is a perspective view of the preferredform of the device; Fig. 2 a perspectlve View, showing the manner of engaging the hooks in the folds of the trousers-leg and passing the device around the'leg; Fig. 3 a perspective view showing the device in position upon the leg; Fig. 4 a perspective view of a slightly-modified form of device; Fig. 5 a similar View of a device constructed substantially the same as the one shown in Fig.

1 except that the hooks are provided with spring-arms to'clasp the trousers; Figs. 6 and 7 detail views of sheet-metal blanks adapted to be bent upon themselves to form hooks. and clamping arms; Fig. 8 a detail perspec-. tive View showing the manner of applying the form of hook shown in Figs. 6 and 7, and Fig. 9 a detail View of another form of hook. The object of this invention, briefly, is to take the place of the metallic-leg-clasps usually worn by bicycle-riders to bind the trousers-leg closely to the leg of the wearer and prevent it being soiled or torn by'contact with the parts of the bicycle.

. The invention consists essentially of a flat elastic-band carrying a hook at each end, said hooks being peculiarly constructed to adapt them to be engaged in the longitudinal folds of the trousers-leg and the elastic band being adapted to extend partially around the leg and draw the folds of the trousers fiat against the leg, as more fully hereinafter described.

Referring to the drawings by letters, a designates the elastic-band, which in this form of device is double or endless, and b the two hooks carried by the band, one at each end thereof, each hook being provided with an eye or loop I) through which the band passes.

' In this form of device each hook is formed of a single piece of wire having one end turned over upon itself to form the elongated eye b and its other, free end bent upwardly ap- Serial No. 503,349. (No model.)

proximately parallel with said loop I) and at substantially a right angle to, and in the same plane, with the flat elastic band, the extremity of this free arm being extended above or beyond the loop'b' and curled over upon itself, toward the band, to form the knob 11. Instead of forming the inward projection b" by curling the end of hook inwardly as shown in Fig. 1, an equally effectual projection may be formed by bending or curving the free end of the-hook inwardly and curling the extremity outwardly as shown in Fig. 9.

The manner of using this device is shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The trousers-leg is drawn close about the leg of the wearer, the parts of the surplus width being brought together; one of the books is then engaged under the lower edge of the surplusage and the elastic band is stretched around the leg far enough to permit the other hook to beinserted in the fold formed by the surplus width of the trousers-leg. In thus applying the device it will be seen that the use of two hands is necessary, one hand being required to carry the elastic-band around the leg and the other being necessary-to hold the folded 'part of the trousers-leg until the free hook is engaged therewith. It will be observed that thefolded part of the trousers-leg will be held closely and neatly to the leg of the wearer without occasioning discomfort to him or injury to cloth of the trousers. Forming the free ends of the hooks at approximately right-angles to the flat band and substantially in the same plane therewith enables them to be inserted up under the folds in the trousers-legwithout twisting the elastic band, and providing the extremities of the hooks with knobs or projections not only prevents the ends from sticking into the trousers, but also prevents the hooks frombecoming accidentally disengaged from the folds of the trousers.

' In Fig.4 the hooks are stamped out of sheet metal, which allows the folds of the trousersleg to lie flatter against the leg of the wearer. As in this form the eyes b are not provided with inlets for the band, the latter is made single, its'ends being merely passed through the eyes and fastened back upon the main part of the band.

In Fig.5 the hooks are shown substantially .the same as in 1, except that the end of the wire after forming the eye I) is carried around and formed into a spring-hook or clamping-arm c,having substantially the same shape as the main hook. The object of this form is to enable the device to be worn loose; the part of the hook provided with the knob slips into the fold of the trousers as in the other form of the device, and the other arm passes outside of the trousers-leg and clamps the same with sufficient pressure to prevent the device from slipping down of its own weight, while of course the strain comes on the knobbed-hook as usual. Should it be desired to provide the stamped hooks with a clamping-arm of this nature, the blanks are cut as shown in Figs. 6 and 7 and the hooks bent over upon themselves on the dottedline a:m, one of the hooks being adapted for insertion within the fold of the trousers-leg and the other for passing on the outside of same as in Fig. 5.

The blank shown in Fig. 6 is adapted for use in connection with a single band similar to that shown in Fig. 4, since the eye I) is closed; while the blank shown in Fig. 7 is adapted for use in connection with an endless band, the folded end of the band being inserted in the eye and a pin d inserted in the folded end of the band before the hooks of the blank are bent over upon themselves, said pin being clamped between the two parts of the blank.

It will be observed that the device is inexpensive in construction, easy of application, and efiective in holding the trousers-leg neatly folded, at the same time being itself almost entirely hidden from view.

The objection to the metallic clasps usually worn by bicycle-riders is that they extend al-. most entirely around the leg and are thereing hook at each end, the free arms of the hooks lying transversely to the band and approximately in the same plane therewith and being turned in the same direction, as and for\5 5 the purpose herein shown and described.

2. A trousers leg guard or clasp consisting of an elastic band carrying an unyielding hook at each end, the free arm of each hook being provided with a projection to engage in the fold of the trousers and both hooks lying approximately transversely to the band and turned in the same direction, substantially as and for the purposes described.

3. A trousers-leg clasp consisting of an elastic band carrying a hook at each end, the free arms of the hooks lying approximately transversely to the band and turned in the same direction, each hook carrying a spring-arm adapted to clasp the trousers leg, and said spring-arms lying close to the main hooks and having substantially the same shape as said hooks, substantially as described,

In testimony whereof I alfix my signaturein presence of two witnesses.

GEO. A. TOlVER.

Witnesses:

G. R. TABB, T. T. HARRIS. 

